Nigeria: Women protest maltreatment of widows

Thousands of Ebonyi women protested against the maltreatment of women and the inability of government agencies to enforce the laws aimed at stopping the evil practices against widows in the state. The women, who were led by the out-going state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ugo Nnach, and the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Catherine Ogbu, marched to Ebonyi Government House, the state House of Assembly and the headquarters of the judiciary to draw the attention of the heads of the three tiers of government. Addressing the women, Governor Sam Egwu promised to give immediate assent to any bill that would be passed by the House of Assembly on the rights and protection of widows in the state.